Temperature controlled environmental enclosure with modular panels



Jan. 23, 1968 B. 1. BLICKMAN TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ENVlRONMLN'xAhENCLOSURE WITH NODULAR PANELS Filed June 16, 1965 INVENTOR ckma/v UnitedStates Patent 3,354,642 TEMPERATURE CSNTRGLLED ENVIRON- P'QEFTALENCLQURE WITH MODULAR PANELS Bernard l. Biiclonan, New York, N.Y.,assignor to S. Elickznan, lnc., Weehawhen, NJ. Filed .lune 16, 1965,Ser. No. 64,515 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-403) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLQSURE Anenvironmental enclosure or room wherein temperature and humidity arecontrolled over specified ranges. Said enclosure having paneled walls,roof and floor, each panel having rigid cellular plasticthermally-insulated cores spaced from each other. Sheet metal plates arebonded to opposite sides of the cores, one plate terminating in aflange, flanges on adjacent plates being closely spaced from each other,a resilient gasket strip between the flanges, spring clips securing thegasket and flanges to each other, and a plastic block assembly betweenadjacent ends of spaced adjacent cores, each assembly including aresilient plastic sponge block with a comparatively rigid plastic narrowblock on each side of the sponge block.

This invention relates to an improved construction for a closedenvironment enclosure or room wherein temperature and humidity arecontrolled over specified ranges.

According to the invention, there is provided a rectangular, closedenclosure having walls, roof, floor and door panels made of blocks offoam plastic encased inside the outside in sheet metal, such asaluminum. The panels are modular in construction and arranged so thatthe enclosure can be erected by means of pressure fittings forming vaportight thermally-insulated seals between adjacent panels. The flangedpanels are sealed to one another by synthetic rubber gaskets.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an environmentenclosure having walls, floor and roof formed of comparatively rigidmodular thermallyinsulated panels.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improvedjoint between adjacent spaced cores of panels forming the wall structureof the enclosure.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a joint betweenadjacent panels including an assembly of a plastic compressible spongeblock and a comparatively rigid plastic block on each side of the spongeblock.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an environment enclosure embodying theinvention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, on anenlarged scale, parts being shown disassembled and parts being shownbroken away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a joint between the wall panels.

Referring now more in detail to the various views of the drawingswherein similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts,in FIG. 1 there is shown an environmental enclosure made in accordancewith the invention. The enclosure includes a horizontal floor 12 androof 14, vertical opposing side walls 15, rear wall-17 and front wall18. The walls are composed of panels P1.

3,3545% Patented Jan. 23, 1%68 A door 20 closes an opening 21 in thefront wall 13. The door is mounted on hinges 22 and is held closed by alatch not shown. Above the door there is provided a screened opening forexhausting air from the enclosure.

On the roof there is provided an electrical junction box 26. This boxcontains relays for control of components inside the enclosure. A powercable 23 is connected to this box to supply electric power. A switch 30on the front wall 18 is connected to box 26.

The front and side walls are assembled from flat rectangular modularpanels P1; see FIG. 2. Each of the wall panels has a flat, rigidrectangular thermally-insulated core 32 made of closed expanded plasticsuch as polystyrene, polyurethane or the like. On the outer side of eachwall panel, there is a metal sheet or plate 34 preferably made ofaluminum. A similar metal sheet 36 is provided on the inner side of eachwall panel.

The plates 34 and 36 are bonded to opposite sides of the cores 32 toform a rigid structure. The end edges of the outer plates 34 extendbeyond the opposite end edges of the cores 32 and then are turnedinwardly to form flanges 35 remote from the end edges of the adjacentcores. The flanges 35 are closely spaced from each other and interposedin the space between the flanges there is interposed a resilientnon-porous gasket strip 38 running the full length of the flanges. Theflanges 35 and gasket strip 38 are secured in position by means of aU-shaped metal clip 39 at the top and bottom thereof and intermediatelocations therebetween. A space 4 1 is left between adjacent cores 32.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved vapor'tight jointassembly 42 fills and seals the space 41 between adjacent cores 32. Thisjoint includes an elongated thick block 44 extending from top to bottomof the cores 32 in FIG. 1, with a narrow block 46 on each side of theblock 44 and suitably fastened thereto by adhesive or the like. Theblock 44 is formed of resilient, cellular, expanded plastic spongematerial, and the narrower blocks 46, 46 are formed of comparativelyrigid plastic material, such as polystyrene, polyurethane or the like.

The joint or block assembly 42 is slightly wider than the width of thespace 41 between adjacent cores 32 and in assembling the joint or blockassembly is squeezed F compressing the sponge block 44 and fitting thejoint or block assembly in the space 36 in abutting relation with theends of the adjacent cores as shown in FIG. 2. During this operation,the joint comprising the flanges 35 and gasket 33 is pressed into thematerial of the block 44 thereby becoming embedded therein with thematerial of the block around the joint as seen in FIG. 2. The spongeblock 44 will expand once the assembly is in place to tightly force therigid blocks 4-6, 46 against the edges of the panel cores 32.

The enclosure described is arranged so that all walls, the floor, roofand door are thermally insulated by thick, rigid cellular cores coveredinside and outside by metal plates. The thermal insulation is continuousat all joints which are vapor tight and flush with the outer Walls. Thedoor hermetically seals the opening 21 when the door is closed. Thus itis possible to control completely the temperature and humidity of airwithin the enclosure.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An environmental enclosure of the type described, said enclosurehaving front and rear walls, side walls,

3 horizontal roof and horizontal floor, a plurality of panels formingsaid walls, roof and fioor, each of said panels having a rigid cellularplastic thermally-insulated core, said cores being spaced from eachother, sheet metal plates bonded to opposite sides of said cores, oneplate on the outer side of each core extending laterally beyond the edgeof the core and terminating in a flange turned inwardly toward the otherplate in the space between the cores, the flanges on adjacent outerplates being closely spaced from each other, a resilient gasket strip inthe space between the closely spaced flanges, spring clips securing thegasket and spaced flanges to each other, at the top and bottom endsthereof, said flanges and gasket forming a vapor-tight, pressure sealedjoint, and a plastic block assembly between adjacent ends of the spacedadjacent cores, said assembly including a resilient plastic sponge blockwith a comparatively rigid plastic narrow block of material similar tothe core on each side of the sponge block, said block assembly beingfitted in and secured in the space between the adjacent cores, the

flanges of said one plate, said gasket and said spring clips beingembedded in the sponge block in the space between adjacent cores, saidblock assembly being normally of greater width than the space betweencores of the assembled panels and hand-squeezed compressible to bereadily assembled upon the joined flanges and gasket strip and betweenthe cores, said rigid side blocks rendering the block assemblyself-supporting before assembly into the space between the cores.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,404 10/1935 Warner 94-1822,023,529 12/1935 Jussen 94-182 2,240,787 5/1941 Kinzer 94-182 3,252,2585/1966 Blickman 52403 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

